Mackinac Island Facts

Mackinac Island Facts

bengarrison/Flickr.com; Mackinac Cowgirl/Flickr.com; humbertomoreno/Flickr.com; Mackinac Cowgirl/Flickr.com

Visit Mackinac Island (sometimes called Mackinaw Island), located east of the Mackinac Bridge that connects the lower and upper Michigan peninsulas. The island contains 70 miles of paved roads and dirt trails for environmentally friendly transportation methods like cycling and horseback riding.

Island Arrivals

Ferry boat going to Mackinac Island
Ferry boat going to Mackinac Island

Residents and tourists typically travel from mainland Michigan to Mackinac Island on a boat or ferry service. The island does not connect to the mainland over any road.

Cycling

There are no privately owned cars on Mackinac Island and most visitors travel by renting a golf cart or bicycle. Bring your own bike or pay for a full day.

Horses

A carriage on Mackinac Island
A carriage on Mackinac Island

With no automobiles, Mackinac residents keep more than 600 horses for taxi and tour services. Tour the island on horseback or ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Adventure Tour

Take the Adventure Tour for children and adults at historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. Traverse a bridge 50 feet above the forest floor, then ride on a 425-foot zip line through the trees.

Winter Trails

Mackinac Island's Main Street during the winter
Mackinac Island's Main Street during the winter

The Mackinaw Island Ski Club maintains several trains during the winter season. Cross country skiing and snowshoe rentals are made available at the Village Inn.

Article Written By Matt Becht

Matt Becht is a freelance filmmaker from Cleveland, Ohio. Becht’s college curriculum included courses in English composition, creative writing, and scriptwriting. He began writing professionally in 2009, and has been published in eHow, Trails.com, Travels.com and Golflink.com. Becht holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.

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